Apparatus for treating textiles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width comprising a duct having an upper bounding wall and a lower bounding wall shaped so that the duct, considered in parallel vertical planes of section, has substantially the shape of an upright U, with the limbs terminating in an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardly-open outlet respectively, the bounding walls having numerous small openings through them at least over the central part of the U, the duct also having side walls, and there being dividing walls extending upwards from the upper bounding wall over the central part of the U, in planes substantially parallel to the side walls, the apparatus also comprising a vessel enclosing with clearance at least the lower part of the duct, and means for imparting to the duct a motion such that the central part of the U rises and falls repeatedly.

United States Patent [191 Broadbent [4 1 Aug. 26, 1975 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 25, 1973 United Kingdom 19612/73 [52] US. Cl 68/152; 68/178 [51] Int. Cl. 1305c 3/134 [58] Field of Search 68/53, 62, 151-156,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,631,692 1/1972 Garzotto 68/152 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.097.322 2/1955 Francc 68/178 501,323 11/1954 ltaly 68/178 244,287 10/1969 U.S.S.R 68/178 Primary Examinerl-larvey C. l-lornsby Assistant ExaminerPhi1lip R. Coe Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor and Hinds 5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width comprising a duct having an upper bounding wall and a lower bounding wall shaped so that the duct, considered in parallel vertical planes of section, has substantially the shape of an upright U, with the limbs terminating in an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardlyopen outlet respectively, the bounding walls having numerous small openings through them at least over the central part of the U, the duct also having side walls, and there being dividing walls extending upwards from the upper bounding wall over the central part of the U, in planes substantially parallel to the side walls, the apparatus also comprising a vessel enclosing with clearance at least the lower part of the duct, and means for imparting to the duct a motion such that the central part of the U rises and falls repeatedly.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 6 I975 1 APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILES The present invention relates to apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width. Examples of such treatments are cleaning, scouring, application of optical brightening agents, dyeing, and application of chemical finishes. The basis of the liquid may be aqueous, or a non-aqueous solvent. Examples of nonaqueous solvents are petroleum hydrocarbons, and both chlorinated and fluoro-chloro hydrocarbon solvents.

According to the present invention, apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width comprises a duct having an upper bounding wall and a lower bounding wall shaped so that the duct, considered in parallel vertical planes of section, has substantially the shape of an upright U, with the limbs terminating in an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardly-open outlet respectively, the bounding walls having numerous small openings through them at least over the central part of the U, the duct also having side walls, and there being dividing walls extending upwards from the upper bounding wall over the central part of the U, in planes substantially parallel to the side walls, the apparatus also comprising a vessel enclosing with clearance at least the lower part of the duct, and means for imparting to the duct a motion such that the central part of the U rises and falls repeatedly. I

In the use of such apparatus, the fabric is fed through the duct from the inlet to the outlet, and the motion is imparted to the duct, while a body of the liquid is in the vessel with a free surface at a level such that the motion of the duct causes the compartments defined by the dividing walls to fill and empty repeatedly.

Preferably the inlet takes part in the rising and falling motion, as this assists progress of the fabric into the duct. In a preferred arrangement, the duct is mounted to swing relatively to the vessel about a horizontal transverse axis adjacent to its outlet. Other arrangements are possible; for example the duct may be raised and lowered bodily.

Preferably the numerous small openings are provided by drilling or punching perforations in sheet metal of the bounding walls. Alternatively, parts of the bounding walls may be of mesh.

The accompanying drawings show one example of an apparatus embodying the invention. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the duct, on the line AA in FIG. 1.

The apparatus includes a duct I which is of uniform U-shaped cross section. The duct consists of an upper bounding wall 8, a lower bounding wall 9, and two side walls. The U-shape is upright, and the duct has an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardly-open outlet. Fabric in open width enters the left-hand limb of the duct through the inlet, and leaves the right-hand limb of the duct through the outlet. The duct is enclosed, with clearance, by a chamber 0, which is likewise U-shaped in cross section. The downstream limb of the duct is pivoted to the chamber about a horizontal axis 7 adjacent to the outlet of the duct, while the upstream limb of the duct can be raised and lowered by driving mechanism including a rotating crank 8a and a connecting rod 8b. In solid lines in FIG. 1 the duct I is shown in an intermediate position, while the broken lines I and I" indicate the uppermost and lowermost position.

In operation, thechamber is filled with the liquid 50 up to such a level that the lower part of the duct is entirely immersed in the liquid when the duct is in the lowermost position. The lines 51, 51 51 in FIG. 1 indicate an intermediate liquid level and maximum and minimum levels; Adjustment of the level produces variation in the degree of agitation of the fabric.

The bounding walls 8 and 9 of the duct are perforated, overthe central part of the U, and the space above the upper wall 8 is enclosed with end walls 11, (FIG. 2) and sub-divided by divisions 12, lying in planes parallel to the side walls and perpendicular to the axis 7. There are thus a transverse series of compartments immediately above the perforated upper wall 8. As shown in FIG. 2, there is a wide central compartment 52a, flanked at each side by several narrower lateral compartments 52b.

If the duct is held in its lowermost position I", then the compartments fill with liquid until the free surface of the liquid is at a uniform level throughout the apparatus. If the duct is now raised to its uppermost position I, then liquid drains out of the compartments through the perforated walls 8 and 9 of the duct. If the duct is again lowered, liquid rises through the perforated walls 9 and 8 and re-enters the compartments. A i

In operation, the crank 8a is driven continuously, for example at a speed of the order of 30 revolutions per minute, and thus the duct is alternately raised and lowered, and in consequence there is an alternating flow of liquid across the duct from the wall 8 to the wall 9 and vice versa. At least part of this flow passes through the fabric and ensures that the fabric is thoroughly subjected to the liquid. Preferably there is provision for varying the speed of the drive to the crank 8a.

The presence of the fabric of course introduces a resistance to this transverse flow. The width of the fabric is not necessarily equal to the width of the duct, and consequently there may be unoccupied portions 57 of the duct outside each edge of the fabric. If the divisions 12 were not present, there would be a tendency for the majority of the flow to by-pass the fabric and instead pass through the spaces 57. The presence of the divisions 12 ensures that the transverse flow is substantially uniformly distributed across the entire width of the duct, regardless of the width of the fabric. Preferably the minimum width of fabric to be handled by the apparatus should be greater than the width of the central compartment 52a.

Baffles 53, 54 are attached to, and project from, the underside of the duct I at the transverse boundaries of the perforated portion of the wall 9. The sides of the duct I may be extended downwards below the wall 9, to form further baffles linking the baffles 53, 54. When the duct is raised and lowered, these baffles resist a tendency for liquid below the duct to surge to and from the ends of the U-sectioned space between the duct and the bottom wall of the chamber 0, and up and down the sides of the duct, instead of passing through the perforated lower wall 9 of the duct.

The fabric is fed into the duct I by a roller 1 and out of the duct by a roller 5, the drive to these rollers being controlled so that the fabric accumulates by plaiting within the duct. This behaviour of the fabric is also known as batching-up. It involves the fabric assuming a zig-zag folded formation within the duct. That is to say, the speed of the output roller 5 is first selected, and then the speed of the input roller 1 is automatically continuously controlled in response to a feeler device, indicated at 55, which responds to the amount of plaited-fabric in the duct I. These adjustments determine the time of residence of the fabric in the liquid.

The apparatus may include scrolled rolls which are rotated rapidly in contact with the fabric, in order to ensure that the fabric is fully spread out transversely.

With appropriate modification of the roller 1 and divisions 12, the apparatus may be used to handle two or three narrow lengths of fabric side by side.

- The fabric is guided into the duct I by a tapered guide 3, and at this point is wetted by means of liquid supplied through a series of nozzles spaced along a spray pipe 2. The liquid supplied through the spray pipe 2 constitutes a continuous addition to the contents of the chamber 0. To maintain a steady level 51, liquid can also be withdrawn by an arrangement not shown. In fact there maybe arrangements (not shown) for establishing flows of liquid into and out of the chamber 0, inorder to maintain a suitable concentration and degree of purity of the liquid throughout operation. The liquicl supplied through the spray pipe 2 may be heated,

to an adjustable extent. Such heating also raises the temperature of the contents of the chamber 0. Heat tends to relax the fabric. Preferably the liquid supplied through the spray pipe 2 is at 70 to 80C.

Preferably, asshown in FIG. 1, the spacing between the; upper and lower walls 8, 9 of the duct progressively increases from the inlet end to the outlet end of the duct. formation assists the progress of the plaited fabric along the duct.

. In place of, or as well as, the baffles 53, 54 there may be bafflesmounted on the bottom wall of the chamber I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width comprising a duct having an upper bounding wall and a lower bounding wall shaped so that the duct, considered in parallel vertical planes of section, has substantially the shape of an upright U, with the limbs terminating in an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardlyopen outlet respectively, the bounding walls having numerous small openings through them at least over the central part of the U, the duct also having side walls, and there being dividing walls extending upwards from the upper bounding wall over the central part of the U, in planes substantially parallel to the side walls, the apparatus also comprising a vessel enclosing with clearance at least the lower part of the duct, and means for imparting to the duct a motion such that the central part of the U rises and falls repeatedly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means by which the duct is mounted to swing relatively to the vessel about a horizontal transverse axis adjacent to its outlet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the dividing walls define a wide central compartment flanked at each side by several narrower lateral compartments.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, including transverse baffles extending from at least one of the underside of the duct and the bottom wall of the vessel.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the duct progressively increases from the inlet end to the outlet end of the duct. 

1. Apparatus for treating fabric with liquid in open width comprising a duct having an upper bounding wall and a lower bounding wall shaped so that the duct, considered in parallel vertical planes of section, has substantially the shape of an upright U, with the limbs terminating in an upwardly-open inlet and an upwardly-open outlet respectively, the bounding walls having numerous small openings through them at least over the central part of the U, the duct also having side walls, and there being dividing walls extending upwards from the upper bounding wall over the central part of the U, in planes substantially parallel to the side walls, the apparatus also comprising a vessel enclosing with clearance at least the lower part of the duct, and means for imparting to the duct a motion such that the central part of the U rises and falls repeatedly.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means by which the duct is mounted to swing relatively to the vessel about a horizontal transverse axis adjacent to its outlet.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the dividing walls define a wide central compartment flanked at each side by several narrower lateral compartments.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, including transverse baffles extending from at least one of the underside of the duct and the bottom wall of the vessel.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the duct progressively increases from the inlet end to the outlet end of the duct. 